Spirit-level



(No Model.) J. A. TRAUT.

- SPIRIT LEVEL.

Patented Dec. 26, 1893.

TH! NAncNAL LITHOGRAPMXNQ cuuPANv.

WASHINGTON, uv n.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

J USTUS A. TRAUT, OF NEWV BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

SPI RlT-LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511 ,377, dated December 26, 1893. Application filed June 10, 1893. Serial No. 4.77.200. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J UsTUs A. TBAUT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britam, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Levels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of levels in which the level-glass is supported in a separable case or carrier; the object being to provide a level having a separable level-case adjustable for the purposes of precision of construction, and having also certain imp rovements in detail and mode of operation, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a level embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the level, in line 2 2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the level-case, as seen from the right-hand in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the levels provided with a revoluble level-glass guard. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the level-case and its guard, in line 5 5 Fig. 4..

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures.

For illustrating my improvements, I have shown the level-case supported between the two uprights 2 and 2 of the level-stock A, this being shown of a form usually made of castiron and of relatively small size, and having its said uprights formed integral therewith.

The level-case consists of a tube 3, which is of a length slightly less than the distance between the said uprights or posts, 2 and 2', of the level-stock, and is preferably of a cylindricalform, as shown in Figs. 3and 5. WVithin the level-case 3 the usual level-glass 4. is set, the bubble 5 within the glass being shown in Figs. 1,2 and 4. in its middle position indicated by the usual transverse mark 6, Fig. 1, on the level-glass. In practice, the level-glass is made slightly smaller than the interior of the level-case, and is fixed therein by means of cement or plaster of paris, indicated at 7 and 7', Fig. 2.

At one end of the level-case, in the present instance at the left-hand in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, this case is fitted to receive the threaded end of the holding-screw 8 which screw is shown in Fig. 2 passing through a perforation in the post or transverse wall 2 of the level-stock, for the purpose of binding the level -case against said post. As a means for making the level-case slightlyadjustable at its righthand end notwithstanding the rigid clamping thereof to said left-hand post 2, the left-hand end of said case, as indicated at 3, Fig. 2, isrelieved, or rounded, so as to bear against said post- 2 on a line about horizontal, thereby providing a species of joint or hinge capable of holding the level-case properly in place while permitting a slight vertical adjustment of the right-hand end thereof. For effecting this adjustment, a guide, 9, is closely fitted within the vertically-adjustable end of said case, so as to be capable of movement longitudinally of the case. Said guide is set against the inner face of the post 2 of the level-stock, being clamped thereto by the clamp-screw 8', which passes through the enlarged opening 10 in said post, in which opening said screw is adapted to have some vertical movement. By means of the described fastenings, the level-case is supported substantially upon the line of its axis between the said supports 2, 2. I

When assembling the level, the case is set between the posts 2 and 2'; and the fixed end thereof, at the left-hand in the present instance, is rigidly clamped against the post 2. Next, the screw 8 is moderately tightened, so as to hold the guide 9 against the other post 2' with a moderate pressure, when the level (this being set on the usual adj usting-table) is corrected by forcibly moving the right-hand end of the level-case, together with said guide 9 and screw 8' upward or downward as the case may be, and finally setting the level-case permanently in position by forcibly tightening said guide clamp-screw to fix the guide rigidly in position.

For protecting the level-case while the level is not in use, the level-case is preferably provided with a pair of shiftable guard-tubes, 11 and 11', shown at the left'hand and righthaud, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 2. 1 said guard-tubes are shown in their outer positions, adjacent to the posts 2 and 2', respectively, thereby uncovering the middle portion of the level-case and the sight-opening 12 therein. In Fig. 2, the guard-tube 11' is shown slid toward the left-hand to cover In Fig.

IOO

the sight-opening 12; but the opposite tube 11 may, instead, be slid over the middle portion of the level-case, the other tube remaining at the right-hand as shown in Fig. 1. In either case, the one said guard-tube operates as a stop for limiting the closing-movement of the other tube.

The guard-tubes 11 and 11 are made slightly larger than the level-case 3, so as to slide freely thereon; and for detaining said guardtubes in their proper positions and holding them from accidental movement, one end of each tube is cut transversely as at 13, leaving a relatively narrow strip 14, which, as indicated in the end view, Fig. 3, is bent inwardly to form aspring for hearing against the levelcase 3, and thereby frictionally holding the guard-tube in whatever position it may be placed by hand.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a modification of the guard-tube, consisting in the tube 15 covering the larger portion of the length of the level-case and having in one side thereof an opening at 15 corresponding to the sight-opening of the level-case. In Fig. 4E this guardtube 15 is shown in its open position, and in Fig. 5 is shown in its closed position, as will be understood by comparison of the several figures of drawings.

Each form of guard-tube herein shown and described has an opening and closing or shiftable movement uponthe level-case, and in each instance furnishes a protection for the case and its inclosed parts. In practice, the

same spring-device described in connection with Figs. 1,2 and 3 may be used for holding the revoluble guard-tube 15, Figs. 4 and 5, in place, the corresponding transverse cut and spring being designated by 13 and 14.", respectively.

The important feature of the construction hereinbefore described consists in the provision for a variable expansion of the parts of the level, whereby said variable expansion is prevented from distorting the level out of truth. This provision consists in the combination described, whereby the guard 9 is movable longitudinally relatively to the level-case, so that, when once assembled ready for use, any increaseor decrease in the length of the level-case causes the end thereof to slide on its guide and thus accommodate the varia tion. This will be understood from Fig. 2, in which a space, 16, is shown between the righthand end of the level-case and the post 2', the guide fixed on said post being separate from the level-case, and, in the present instance, fitted within the same. It will be evident, however, that the particular construction and arrangement of the guide in respect of its connection with the level-case, may be varied in difierent ways without departing from my invention.

It will, of course, be obvious that my improvements are applicable to a wooden level stock as well as to the metal stock described. When a wooden stock is employed, it maybe desirable to mortise or recess the level stock to form abutments, between the adjacent faces of which thelevel-case may be supported; these abutments, so formed, being equivalent to the form of supports shown in the drawings, therefore I do not limit my invention to the exact construction shown in the drawings of the level-case supports.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a level, the combination with a level stock having opposing abutments or faces adapted for receiving and supporting between them a level-case, of a level-case rigidly fixed to one said abutment and extending nearly to the opposite abutment, a levelcase guide in engagement with the level-case and fitted for longitudinal movement with relation thereto, and means for adjustably holding said guide in place on the abutment, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a level, the combination of a level stock having a pair of level-case supports or 0 uprights, and a level-case adj ustably supported in the line of its longitudinal axis between said uprights and with a space between one end thereof and the upright to permit longitudinal expansion, substantially as described.

3. In alevel, the combination with the levelstock having a pair of level-case supports, of a tubular level-case having a rounded end and secured at this end by a screw or other suitable device in a line of its longitudinal axis to one of the supports, and supported at its opposite end upon a guide adjustably secured to the opposite support, and means for adjusting the supportingguide longitudinally with relation to the case, substantially as described.

a. In a level, the combination with the levelstock having a pair of level-case supports, of the tubular level-case supported in the line of its longitudinal axis and capable of alongitudinal and a, slightly, transverse movement between said uprights and having a sight-opening about midway of its length, a level-glass contained within said case, and guard-tubes surrounding said case and capable of longitudinal movement thereon to cover the sight-opening, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. An improved'level, comprising a stock having two uprights formed integral therewith, a tubular level-case supported adjustably at its ends in the line of its longitudinal axis between said uprights, the support at one end of which comprises a level-case-guide of a diameter to closely fit within the case, and an adj usting-screw movably seated in the adjacent support and engaging said guide, the said level-case having the usual sight-opening, and a means for closing said sight-opening, substantially as described.

6. In a level, in combination, the level stock A having the level-case supports or abutments 2, 2', the tubular casing 3 supported ITO between said abutments in the line of its longitudinal axis and'constructed for vertical adjustment at one end thereof, substantially as described, and having the sight-opening 12 intermediate to its ends, ailevel-glass fixedly secured within said casing, and a sight-opening guard shiftably mounted upon said cas ing and adapted for covering the sight-opening therein, all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

J USTUS A. TRAUT. Witnesses:

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, EMMA G. FOWLER. 

